9/25/2012 1:32:00 AM
NEWS BRIEFS
New Partnership Boosts Fastener Training
Courtest Rockford Register Star
MEDIA SPOTLIGHT — Fastenal Co. has partnered with other enterprises to ensure its machine operators in Rockford, IL, are trained on the latest equipment, the Rockford Register Star reports.
Under an arrangement with EIGERlab, Doosan and Fastenal, Rock Valley College will be given an $80,000 Doosan CNC turning center for its EIGERlab’s Techworks program, which offers a six-week training program for new machine operators, according to the Register Star.
At least one other company is contributing to the program. Sandvik Coromant reportedly will donate cutting tools for the machine.
“A year from now, Fastenal will buy the machine and it will be replaced at Techworks with a new Doosan CNC so trainees can learn on the latest equipment.”
Fastenal manufacturing VP Tim Borkowski said Fastenal came to Rockford because of the training programs available.
“We’re very dependent on skilled labor,” Borkowski stated.
Fastenal is not alone. Many U.S. manufacturers cite a skilled-labor shortage that affects their ability to expand.
But Fastenal seems to have found a solution for its Rockford facility. The Techworks program at Rock Valley College has produced 115 graduates, and “turns out a class of eight new machine operators every six weeks.”
But even successful training programs are only a first step. Graduates enter the workforce with basic skills — knowing “what buttons to push” and how to monitor a machine — but further training is needed to produce first-rate machine operators, EIGERlab executive director Dan Cataldi told the Register Star.
“They really need more hands on training and experience to be a good machinist,” Cataldi explained. ©2012 GlobalFastenerNews.com
Editor’s Note: Articles in Media Spotlight are excerpts from publications or broadcasts which show the industry what the public is reading or hearing about fasteners and fastener companies.
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